Dental instrument



E. w. IDEN.

DENTAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.2, 1919.

1,347,275. Patented July 20, 1920.,

wjizsffwn" PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE W. IDEN, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

DENTAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920.

Application filed September 2, 1919. Serial No. 321,050.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE W. IDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device used in dental practice and is particularly intended for use in oral and dental prophylaxis.

In its specific use it consists of a holder and reinforced hard cotton or a soft felt roll of convenient size and form and which are gripped by the holder in a very firm manner. It is of special benefit in massage of the gums, and as a means for applying medicine used in the treatment of pyorrhea, sore and bleeding gums, as a cleaner and polisher of the teeth, gold crowns, gold inlays and amalgam fillings.

The foregoing objects are obtained in the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts of reference throughout the various views and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device constructed in accordance with the principles above set forth. Fig. 2 is a plan -view thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a sliding clip by means of which the jaws of the instrument are held together; Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional details on the corresponding lines 4: and 5 of Fig. 2.

The instrument comprises a handle 1 which is formed from a single piece of sheet metal and is slightly concave in cross section and terminates in two jaws 2 and 3 by means of which the roll for treating the gums is rigidly held. The jaws are adapted to be retained in a closed position by means of a sliding clip 4 secured to the jaw 2 by having an inturned flange 5 which slides along the edge of said jaw. The clip has also formed integral therewith two projections 6 and 7, the projection 6 engaging against the lower face of the jaw 3 and the projection 7 reposing in a recess 8 formed upon the upper face of the jaw 33. s

This recess is inclined downwardly from a point near the end of the jaw 3 and when the clip is moved in the opposite direction from the end of the aw 3, the projection 7 is allowed to free itself from said jaw and due to the resiliency of the material of which the instrument is formed, the jaws are then allowed to spring apart. To limit the rearward movement of the sliding clip 4, I have provided a circular projection 9 'upon the jaw 2.

The receiving end, or that portion of the jaws which actually grips the roll, is formed in such a manner as to positively lock the roll in place when the jaws are clamped together, as before described and'may be provided with teeth to further their gripping powers.

The above construction provides an instrument which is very simple of operation, allowing the roll to be picked up by the jaws, locked in position and after use readily destroyed without coming in contact with the fingers, the instrument may then be thoroughly sterilized which is desirable due to the fact that pyori'hea germs are very easily carried from place to place and might be carried to different portions of a persons mouth.

While I have shown and described these various forms of instrument it is obvious that it is capable of other modifications and I do not wish to limit myself in the construction further than is required by the state of the art or that which comes within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A dental instrument comprising a pair of jaws with handle portions connected together at the rear end, and a sliding clip mounted upon said handle portions and movable along the same to open or close the jaws said clip having projections engaging in slots in the handle to hold the same in place.

In testimony whereof I do aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE W. IDEN. V Witnesses:

JOHN A. BOMMHARDT, ERT L- B3 

